Good Shepherd NZ gathers to celebrate achievements and plan for the future

August 3, 2021

On 29th July our team gathered in Auckland to celebrate Good Shepherd Day – one week after the day the Sisters of the Good Shepherd arrived in New Zealand for the first time 135 years ago.

Every year Good Shepherd NZ staff, board members and Sisters from all over the country, come together to celebrate each other’s achievements, reflect on the Good Shepherd mission and plan for the future.

Chief Executive Fleur Howard said:

“It’s great to be able to get together and celebrate all the hard work we’re doing every single day whilst also talking about the bigger picture and challenging ourselves to do more and better.”

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

The day was kicked off with a session on Te Tiriti o Waitangi from Te Tao-awa o te Ora Trust.

The team had an open discussion about the role Te Tiriti o Waitangi has in Aotearoa, and its importance to our mission, values and the work we deliver.

One of our team members shared:

“The session helped me develop a better understanding of the opportunity the treaty provides for us to think differently about the way we work in New Zealand and how our mission – to tackle the significant issues impacting women, girls and their whānau – fits into the wider picture.”

Responding to the need

We’re focused on improving wellbeing for women and girls, which is why we work in areas where women and girls are overrepresented in adverse outcomes.

After lunch we explored New Zealand’s modern landscape, the areas that need to improve and the impact we can make in line with our mission.

We agreed that if we are driven by our values, deliver through partnerships, play to our strengths, bring our unique perspective to entrenched issues and focus on the gaps we will help:

Build financial wellbeing
Advance social wellbeing
Influence change

Celebrating our achievements

We finished the day by celebrating our achievements, some of which included:

Over 12,000 financial conversations in the past year
Over ten million dollars loaned through Good Loans
Five million dollars saved for our clients through Good Loans in comparison to borrowing from other high-cost lenders
More than 3,000 clients supported to access other social services they need
73 Drive Insurance policies taken out since November 2020
Over 400 clients supported to get their debts back under control through DEBTsolve since October 2020
More than $70,000 written off for our DEBTsolve clients – that’s before they even start working with our Debt Coaches on a debt repayment plan
Our Debt Coaches now working with people who have experienced financial abuse
The development of our Healthy Relationships Toolkit with AUT
Rolling out the Shine in School programme into schools in the Wellington region, in partnership with Shine
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  • Over 12,000 financial conversations in the past year
  • Over ten million dollars loaned through Good Loans
  • Five million dollars saved for our clients through Good Loans in comparison to borrowing from other high-cost lenders
  • More than 3,000 clients supported to access other social services they need
  • 73 Drive Insurance policies taken out since November 2020
  • Over 400 clients supported to get their debts back under control through DEBTsolve since October 2020
  • More than $70,000 written off for our DEBTsolve clients – that’s before they even start working with our Debt Coaches on a debt repayment plan
  • Our Debt Coaches now working with people who have experienced financial abuse
  • The development of our Healthy Relationships Toolkit with AUT
  • Rolling out the Shine in Schools programme into schools in the Wellington region, in partnership with Shine

“It was great to have everyone together and to take the time to celebrate the impact of the work we’re doing – can’t wait for next year”.

“It was great to have everyone together and to take the time to celebrate the impact of the work we’re doing – can’t wait for next year”.

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